Toy apparatus



(No Model.)

G. A. SPENCE.

TOY APPARATUS. No. 457,593. Patented Aug. 11, 1891.

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NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE A. SPENCE, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

TOY APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,593, dated August11, 1891.

Application filed January 27, 1891. Serial No. 379,290. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. SPENCE, of Salem, county of Essex, Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Toy Apparatus, ofwhich the following description, n connection with the accompanyingdraw- 1ngs,isa specification,like letters and figures on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel toy apparatus bywhich a story or tale may be mechanically illustrated. My invention isherein shown as embodied in an apparatus constructed, as will bedescribed, whereby the story of Jack and Jill may be mechanicallyrepresented.

In accordance with my invention I employ a toy-carrier adapted to bemoved as by a spring or in any other desired manner, and a devicelocated in the path of movement of the toy-carrier to disengage ordislodge the toy from its carrier to mechanically carry the story intoexecution.

My invention in a toy apparatus therefore consists in the combination,with a base having an inclined portion and a structure supported by thebase near the top of the inclined portion, of a toy and toy-carrier,means concealed within the base to move the carrier and toy up theinclined plane, and a disengaging device attached to and near the upperend of said incline to act on the under side of the toy and lift it fromits carrier, substantially as will be described.

Other features of my invention will be pointed out in the claims at theend of this specification.

Figure l is a section of atoy apparatus embodying my invention, thesection being taken on line a: m, Fig. 3, in a position reverse fromthat shown in said figure; Fig. 2,atop or plan view of the apparatusbroken out to save space in the drawings, and Fig. 3 an under side Viewof the apparatus to more clearly show the working parts of the same.

- The apparatus herein shown is provided with a base Ct of papier-mach,wood, or other suitable material. The base a is made inclined torepresent a hill, one side of the hill (marked 2) being made longer thanthe other side, (marked 3.) The inclined side 2 substantially near thetop supports, as shown, a structure representinga well, the upperportion b of the well being made of papier-mach or of any other suitableor desired material and the lower portion 1), located below the baseCt,b6- 5 5 the usual chain or rope, andto which is fastened a pail orbucket. (Not shown.) The inclined side 2 of the base is provided with apreferably smooth portion b representing a road leading from the bottomto the top of the hill.

The road 5 is preferably made curved or other than straight, and isprovided with a slot b extended through the inclined portion 2 of thebase from substantially near the bottom to substantially near the top ofthe hill. The slot (9 as herein shown, has extended up through it twouprights or postscc, attached to a carrier 0 herein shown as a block orpiece, which may be of wood or other material. The posts or uprights cc, as represented, are provided with sockets in their upper ends, intowhich may be fitted rods or frames secured to the characters 0 crepresenting Jack and Jill.

The toy-carrier c is preferably automati:

cally moved up the hill by a motor, herein shown as a spring 0, woundupon the shaft of a drum 0 to which is secured one end of a cord orother connection 0 having its other end fastened to the carrier 0 Thecarrier 0 may be returned to its normal or starting po- 8 5 sition(shown in Fig. 2) by means of a cord 0 which is extended preferablythrough a hole in the base to the outside or front of the base, where itmay be fastened to a hook e or in any other suitable or desired manner.

In order to carry the story mechanically into effect, a disengagingdevice is located in the road b near the top of the hill in proximity tothe well. The disengaging device is herein shown as two inclinedprojections cl (1 on opposite sides of the slot 19 The projections cl dare adapted to engage lugs or projections on the rod or frame to whichthe characters 0 c are secured and disengage the said rods or framesfrom their carrier. This is effected, as herein shown, by the inclinedprojections lifting the rods or frames from the sockets in the top ofthe uprights c 0'. hen the rods or frames are disengaged from theuprights on the carrier, the characters fall upon the inclined portion 2of the base, and in practice the said inclined portion will preferablybe made steep enough to cause the characters 0 c to descend to thebottom of the hill. The projection at is placed slightly in front of theprojection (1', so that the character 0 representing Jack, will fallbefore the character 0 representing Jill. The character 0 has a pail ehung upon its arm, and, if desired, the character 0 may also be providedwith a pail.

In operation, the characters are fitted upon the carrier and the cord 0released, so as to permit the spring 0 to Wind the cord or otherflexible connection 0 upon the drum 0 and cause the carrier to ascendthe hill until the characters are disengaged by the cams or projections(Z (1, and the carrier may then be returned to its normal position bypulling upon the cord 0 I have herein shown my invention as embodied inan apparatus for mechanically carrying into effect the story of Jack andJill; but I do not desire to limit my invention to the mechanicalrepresentation of this particular story, as the gist of my inventionresides in the carrier for the toy, means to move the carrier, and adevice to disengage the toy from its carrier. 7,

In order to obviate shocks to the toy-carrier, a cushioning device ispreferably employed, which in the present instance is shown as a rubberband or strap (Z extended across the path of movement of the toy-carrier0 it having its ends fastened on opposite sides of the slot b 1. In atoyapparatus, the combination, with a base havingan inclined portion and astructure supported by the base near the top of the inclined portion, ofa toyand toy-carrier, means concealed within the base to move thecarrier and toy' up the inclined plane, and a disengaging deviceattached to and near the upper end of said incline to act on the underside of the toy and lift it from its carrier, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a toy apparatus, the combination, with a base having an inclinedportion provided with a slot and a structure supported by the base nearthe top of the inclined portion, of a toy, a toy-carrier located belowthe base and provided with uprights extended up through the slot toreceive the toy loosely thereon, means to move said carrier, andprojections 01 d, secured to the base substantially near the top of theinclined portion adjacent to the slot to engage and remove the toy fromthe carrier, substantially as described.

3. Ina toy apparatus, the combination, with a toy and a carrier to whichthe toy is loosely attached and means to move said carrier, of adisengaging device to act on the under side of the toy and lift it fromits carrier, and a cushioning device or elastic cord located across thepath of movement of and to limit the movement of the toy-carrier andresist shock to the said carrier, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' GEORGE A. SPENCE.

\Vitnesses:

JAs. H. CHURCHILL, FRANCES MAY NOBLE.

